Intro to SCULPTURE
Teacher: Jonathan Adler He’s the guy who designs all those nifty, little ceramics they
sell at Target, who can trace the footprints of his Prada shoes back to those of the great luminaries of sculpture, Michelangelo and Donatello (not the teenage mutant ninja turtle), both of whom were reportedly gay (the sculptors, not the turtles). But, lesbians today don’t have as far reaching a history of fame in the sculpture arts…Or do they?
Subject: The White Marmorean Flock This group of 19th century, ex-patriot American, female sculptors in Italy undoubtedly deserve far more attention than they received, then and now. While not all of the women were lesbian or white (African American Edmonia Lewis may have created the masterpiece of this group, the “Death of Cleopatra,”), they were certainly highly worthy of more individual attention than to be lumped together as a “flock.” Novelist Henry James, describedhow these women found license to run off to Italy, take up sculptors’ tools in hand, get covered in marble dust, employ naked, male models and loosen their waistcoasts a bit... And for many of them, to live openly and sexually with one another. This seminal group of women included Louisa Lander, Harriet Hosmer, Anne Whitney, Emma Stebbins, Margaret Foley, Florence Freeman and Vinnie Ream (the first female artist to receive a commission from the U.S. government); all of whose works aren’t just sitting in museums but are noteworthy statuary that you see all the time (New York’s Central Park fountain “Angel of the Waters”) or in such important spaces as the Capitol Rotunda in Washington, D.C. (Ream’s bust of Lincoln). Hosmer, sometimes described as the leader of this flock and may certainly have been the most out- spoken and financially successful (her bust of the fairy “Puck” was reproduced an estimated 50 times), is now considered the most famous female sculptor of her time in America.
Teacher: Reginald Dwight Once calling him a “hero,” Reginald Dwight would likely never have become
the outrageous, outspoken musician and rumored head of the gay mafia, Elton John. Without whom, we wouldn’t have David Bowie, Little Richard, Freddie Mercury, David Lee Roth, Michael Jackson, Boy George or Prince.
Subject: Władziu Valentino Liberace (1919-1987) What better teacher than Elton John to introduce us to Liberace, who we often
recall with mockery and derision for his over-the-top costumes, jewelry and endless piano embellishments. We sometimes forget the sheer adoration and acceptance he received. In fact, Liberace, referred to as “Mr. Showmanship,” amassed quite a number of awards and a great deal of wealth (he was the highest earning entertainer of his time) all the while succeeding at his stated mission… to make classical music “more accessible” to the public. At the same time, many have argued he made his admixture of flamboyance, charm and warmth not only acceptable but endearing to his fans. Although the recent HBO biopic, Behind the Candelabra portrayed his charm and influence, it was met with less than critical success and in lingering over the more salacious aspects of his life, may have failed to convey his true genius. Few Las Vegas entertainers would deny his influence on the development of their showmanship and a greater appreciation of his work may best be found in revisitingThe Liberace Show on television (1952-1969).
APRIL 2016 | RAGE monthly 21
MUSIC Appreciation
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